The film, written and directed by Timor-Leste native Francisca Maia, was filmed in Timor in 2013. Shot over a week in the jungle outside Dili, the challenging shoot involved numerous local crew working on a film production for the first time. The Messenger showcases naturalistic cinematography by Max Davis and authentic production design by Melchior Dias Fernandes. Congratulations to Tuuli, Francisca and her team.